Agustín Ramírez opens 2026 as the Marlins’ primary catcher, but prospect depth means the role may not stay his without improvement.
Agustín Ramírez enters 2026 exactly where he wanted to be -- penciled in as the primary catcher for the Miami Marlins.
After a promising rookie season and a confident FanFest declaration that included lofty offensive goals and a commitment to staying behind the plate full-time, the job is his.
But only for now.
On paper, the Marlins look set at catcher, as noted in recent international coverage of the roster construction. In reality, this is one of the most quietly volatile positions on the roster. Ramírez may have the inside track, but the leash isn’t long — and the organization has options waiting in the wings.
Ramírez’s case is straightforward. He showed legitimate power in 2025, popping 21 home runs while adjusting on the fly to major-league pitching. The Marlins don’t have many internal hitters capable of a 30-homer ceiling, especially at a premium defensive position. That alone gives him runway. Pair that with his stated offseason focus on agility, conditioning, and defensive consistency, and it’s clear the organization wants this to work.
The issue is that “wanting it to work” isn’t the same as locking it in.
Behind Ramírez is Joe Mack, one of the more polished defensive catching prospects in the system. Mack doesn’t offer the same upside of immediate power, but his calling card has always been game-calling, receiving, and overall steadiness behind the plate. For a pitching staff still trying to find its footing, that skill set matters, maybe more than the occasional extra-base hit.
That’s where the pressure comes in.
If Ramírez merely repeats his 2025 production -- solid but streaky offense, and passable but inconsistent defense -- the Marlins may start treating catcher as a time-share rather than a fixed role. If the defense lags or the bat stalls, the door opens wider. Not immediately, but steadily. The organization has no incentive to force a square peg into a round hole if another option provides more balance.
This season is about separation. Ramírez doesn’t need to be perfect, but he does need to be clearly better than the alternative. That means fewer defensive lapses, better handling of the pitching staff, and turning his power into sustained production rather than flashes of it. The bar isn’t superstardom, it’s undeniability.
The opportunity is there. So is the risk.
Ramírez asked for big goals. Now comes the part where he has to protect the job that allows him to chase them.
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